Method for connecting a user terminal to a network slice

Abstract

A method for connecting a user terminal to a subset of a network dedicated to a service, termed network slice, implemented by the terminal. This method includes at least one step of receiving at least one network slice identifier, originating from an access device associated with the at least one identified slice, a step of selecting a network slice as a function of parameters included in the terminal, and of the at least one slice identifier received. The method furthermore includes a step of attaching to the access device associated with the selected network slice.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A connection method comprising:
 connecting a user terminal to a subset of a network dedicated to a service, termed a network slice, implemented by the user terminal prior to the user terminal's actual attachment to an access device of a plurality of access devices, by: 
 at least one act of receiving at least one message comprising a service identifier, originating from a first access device of the plurality of access devices, which is associated with a network slice corresponding to the received at least one service identifier, the at least one message also comprising an IP address of the first access device; 
 an act of selecting a network slice, comprising:
 comparing the received at least one service identifier with at least one network slice identifier stored in the user terminal; and 
 in response to determining that no service identifier received by the user terminal corresponds to a network slice identifier stored in the user terminal, selecting a default network slice; and 
 
 following the act of selecting the network slice, an act of attaching to a second access device of the plurality of access devices that is associated with the selected default network slice. 
 
     
     
       2. The connection method as claimed in  claim 1  where the at least one service identifier is associated with an operator network identifier. 
     
     
       3. The connection method as claimed in  claim 1  where the service identifier is received in a same message as an operator network identifier. 
     
     
       4. The connection method as claimed in  claim 1  in which the received at least one message comprising the service identifier is distinct from a message comprising an operator network identifier. 
     
     
       5. The connection method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the network comprises an access network and a network core and the service identifier identifies entities of the network core. 
     
     
       6. The connection method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the network comprises an access network and a network core and the service identifier identifies entities of the access network and entities of the network core. 
     
     
       7. The connection method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the at least one network slice identifier stored in the user terminal is stored in a SIM card of the user terminal. 
     
     
       8. The connection method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one service identifier has a syntax that identifies at least one network operator. 
     
     
       9. The connection method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the received at least one message comprising the at least one service identifier comprises information enabling the user terminal to attach to the second access device associated with the at least one network slice identifier. 
     
     
       10. A user terminal wherein the user terminal comprises:
 a processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor configure the user terminal to perform acts comprising: 
 connecting to a subset of a network dedicated to a service, termed a network slice, prior to the user terminal's actual attachment to an access device of a plurality of access devices, by: 
 receiving at least one message comprising a service identifier, originating from a first access device of the plurality of access devices, which is associated with a network slice corresponding to the received at least one service identifier, the at least one message also comprising an IP address of the first access device; 
 selecting a network slice, comprising:
 comparing the received at least one service identifier with at least one network slice identifier stored in the user terminal; and 
 in response to determining that no service identifier received by the user terminal corresponds to a network slice identifier stored in the user terminal, selecting a default network slice; and 
 
 following the act of selecting the network slice, attaching to a second access device of the plurality of access devices that is associated with the selected network slice. 
 
     
     
       11. The user terminal as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one service identifier has a syntax that identifies at least one network operator. 
     
     
       12. The user terminal as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the received at least one message comprising the at least one service identifier comprises information enabling the user terminal to attach to the second access device associated with the at least one network slice identifier. 
     
     
       13. A system comprising:
 a plurality of access devices; and 
 at least one user terminal, which comprises: 
 a processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor configure the user terminal to perform acts comprising:
 connecting to a subset of a network dedicated to a service, termed a network slice, prior to the user terminal's actual attachment to an access device of the plurality of access devices, by: 
 receiving at least one message comprising a service identifier, originating from a first access device of the plurality of access device, which is associated with a network slice corresponding to the received at least one service identifier, the at least one message also comprising an IP address of the first access device; 
 selecting a network slice, comprising:
 comparing the received at least one service identifier with at least one network slice identifier stored in the user terminal; and 
 in response to determining that no service identifier received by the user terminal corresponds to a network slice identifier stored in the user terminal, selecting a default network slice; and 
 
 following the act of selecting the network slice, attaching to a second access device of the plurality of access devices that is associated with the selected network slice. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one network service identifier has a syntax that identifies at least one network operator. 
     
     
       15. The system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the received at least one message comprising the at least one service identifier comprises information enabling the user terminal to attach to the second access device associated with the at least one network slice identifier. 
     
     
       16. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which the code instructions of a computer program are stored, which when executed by a processor of a user terminal configure the user terminal to perform a connection method, wherein the method comprises:
 connecting to a subset of a network dedicated to a service, termed a network slice, prior to the user terminal's actual attachment to an access device of a plurality of access devices, by: 
 receiving at least one message comprising a service identifier, originating from a first access device of the plurality of access devices, which is associated with a network slice corresponding to the received at least one service identifier, the at least one message also comprising an IP address of the first access device; 
 selecting a network slice, comprising:
 comparing the received at least one service identifier with at least one network slice identifier stored in the user terminal; and 
 in response to determining that no service identifier received by the user terminal corresponds to a network slice identifier stored in the user terminal, selecting a default network slice; and 
 
 following the act of selecting the network slice, attaching to a second access device of the plurality of access devices that is associated with the selected network slice. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one service identifier has a syntax that identifies at least one network operator. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the received at least one message comprising the at least one service identifier comprises information enabling the user terminal to attach to the second access device associated with the at least one network slice identifier.